Fluorescent lighting fixture and socket assembly therefor



Feb. 21, 1961 H. c. SCHIFFER FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE AND SOCKETASSEMBLY THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 10, 1956 ali.

l ATTORNEY INVENTOR HfwirfJZW/FFEA Feb. 21 1961 H. C.-SCHIFFER 2,972,675

FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE AND SOCKET ASSEMBLY THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed Sept. 10, 1956 INVENTOR HENPYCJZH/FFEA screws, rivets or otherfastening means. .of a fixture using two fluorescent tubes or lamps,four sockets are required and these are held in place by at FLUORESCENTLIGHTING FIXTURE AND SOCKET ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Henry C. Schiifer,Cheshire, Conn., assignor to The Miller Company, Meriden, Conn., acorporation of Connecticut Filed Sept. 10, 1956, Ser. No. 608,795

' 5 Claims. (Cl. 240-51-11) This invention relates to electric lightingfixtures and more specifically to an improved socket assembly and mounttherefor for fluorescent lighting fixtures.

Fluorescent lighting fixtures employ one or more elongated tubular bulbshaving electrical connections on each least eight screws or rivets. Notonly does the use of :screws result in a material increase in the costof the fixture, but suitable wiring channels or enclosures must also heused to protect the wiring about the sockets so that additionalfastening means must also be employed.

This invention has as one of its objects an improved fluorescent fixturesocket assembly that is characterized by its simplicity, dependabilityand low cost. Through a novel and improved arrangement of elements, thesockets and associated wiring channel are combined to form a singlesturdy assembly by the use of a single fastener and this assembly maythen be secured to the fixture with not more than two fastening devicessuch as screws or the'like.

Another object of the invention is a novel and improved socket mount forfluorescent fixtures that simpli- "fies assembly, maintenance and repairof the fixtures and at the same time affords a unitary mount for thetube sockets and starter along with a shield for wholly enclosing theassociated wiring.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of animproved socket mounting assembly forv fluorescent fixtures.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedfluorescent fixture characterized by its relatively low cost and ease ofassembly and repair.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following description and accompanying drawingsforming part of this application.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the presentinvention, one embodiment in which the invention may take form, it beingunderstood that the drawings are illustrative of the invention ratherthan limiting the same. V

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view in diagrammatic form of a fluorescentfixture in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along .the line 2--2thereof and illustrating in detail certain elements of the socket"assembly in accordance with the i vention and its cooperation with thelighting fixture;

United State p 0 2,972,675 Patented Feb. 21, 1961 taken along the lines6-6 of Fig. 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section taken along the lines 7-7 of Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of Fig. 7;and

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the socket and starterassembly for a fluorescent fixture in accord ance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to Fig. 1 there isillustrated a fragmentary portion of a fluorescent fixture having anelongated reflector 10, a wiring channel 11 secured to the upper facethereof and a socket and starter assembly 12 is carried at the ends ofthe wiring channel 11, and separate means are provided for securing thereflector 10 to the wiring channel. While the fixture may be supportedin any suitable manner, it is usually attached to the ceiling by hangerssecured to or otherwise engaging the Wiring channel 11. As will beshown, the socket assemblies 12 are secured to and carried directly bythe wiring channel 11. With this arrangement the fixture may be Wiredwith the reflector 10 removed from its position on the fixture and theassembly tested and checked in its position on the ceiling prior to theattachment of the reflector 10. Not only does this arrangementfacilitate the installation and assembly of fluorescent fixture, butgreatly facilitates maintenance, repair and replacement of componentswhen necessary.

The socket and starter assembly 12 is shown more clearly in explodedform in Fig. 9 and the cooperation of this assembly with the otherelements of the fixture is illustrated in Figs. 2 through 8.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the socket assemblies 12,of which two are required for each fixture, include a pair of bi-pintype fluorescent lamp sockets 13 and 14 for supporting the ends of twospaced fluorescent tubes generally denoted by the numeral 15 in Fig. 3.The sockets are of conventional construction and include terminals 16and 17 for attachment of the connecting wires and a pair of transverseopenings 18 extending through the socket and normally used for theattachment of the socket to the fixture. A front view of the socket 14is shown in Fig. 5 and it will be observed that the openings eachinclude a surrounding recessed part 19 adapted to receive the head ofthe conventional screw in prior socket mounting procedures. The face ofthe socket includes other recesses 18', 19' which may be utilized forpurposes similar to recesses 18, 19.

The mounting means for the sockets 13 and 14 includes a front plategenerally denoted by the numeral 20 and a back plate denoted by thenumeral 21. The front plate 20, as will be more clearly observed in Fig.9, includes an upper, forwardly extending, flanged part 22 and a lower,rearwardly extending flange 23.. The side edges 25 and 26 are cut backto expose a circular portion of the sockets 13 and 14, as viewed in Fig.2, for instance, so that the plate member 20 will not interfere with thecooperation of the fluorescent tubes with their associated sockets.

The sockets 13 and 14 are held in position by two sets of inwardlyformed bosses 27 and 28 having an outside diameter approximately equalto the inside diameter of the recesses 19 surrounding the socket holes18, as illustrated in Fig. 5. In addition, the bosses 27 and 28 arespaced from the bottom flange 23 of the front plate 20 so that when thesocket is in engagement with their respective bosses, the bottomsurfaces of the sockets as shown in Fig. 9, will rest on the uppersurface of the flange 23. In addition, the body 24 of the front plate 20is provided with a pair of forwardly bent tab-s 29 and 30 and a pair ofinclined tabs 31 and 32 for cooperation with recesses 33 and 34,respectively, in the back plate 21 in the manner to be described.

The front plate 20, in addition to including provision for engaging thesockets 13 and 14, further includes a circular opening, not shown, inthe flange 22 and immediately beneath the starter socket 35, as viewedin Fig. 9. The starter socket 35 may be secured to the flange 22 in anysuitable manner as by a pair of screws 36. With this arrangement thestarter 37, as viewed for instance, in Fig. 3, is carried directly bythe socket assembly 12 and the wiring w associated therewith is disposedwithin the wiring channel 11. The reflector includes an opening 38through which the starter 37 protrudes when the reflector is inposition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. This permits the starter to bereplaced without removal of the reflector, and as will be shown, permitsremoval of the reflector without disengagement of the starter 37 fromits socket 35.

Referring again to Fig. 9 the sockets 13 and 14 are held in position onthe front plate 20 by the back plate 21. This back plate includes abottom flange 39 which underlies the flange 23 of the front plate 20 inthe completed assembly. The outer edges 40 and 41 of the back plate 20have a circular contour adapted to cover the back of the sockets 13 and14 when the latter are in place on the front plate 20, as shown in Figs.1 and 2. The assembly is held together in this embodiment of theinvention by a single machine screw 42 and cooperating nut 43. Themachine screw extends through openings 44 in the back plate 21 and 45 inthe front plate 20. The back plate bears firmly against the backs of thesockets 13 and 14 and holds them in firm engagement with the bosses 27and 28 and the bottom flange 23 of the front plate 20 in the mannerpreviously described.

From the description of the invention thus far it will be observed thatthe sockets 13 and 14, normally requiring four individual screws forholding the sockets themselves to the fixture, are held in place by asingle screw 42 and this screw, in addition to supporting and holdingboth sockets, secures the front and back plates one to the other toprovide a completely enclosed wiring channel for protection of the wiresextending between the sockets 13 and 14, the starter 35 and otherelements of the lamp fixture. Moreover, as will be shown, the wiringchannel enclosing the socket wires is in direct communication with thewiring channel 11 as,shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. f

It will be observed in Fig. 9 as well as certain of the other figuresthat the back plate 21 extends above the upper edges of the sockets 13and 14 and the ends of this extension are bent inwardly to form a pairof mounting tabs 46 and 47 for securing the socket assembly to thewiring channel 11. The tabs extend above the upper edge of the backplate 21 and include narrowed tab parts 46' and 47' with openings 48 and49. When the sockets 13 and 14 together with the front plate 20 and backplate 21 are assembled the tabs 46 and 47 of the back plate 21 liewithin the tabs 29 and 30 on the front plate 20.

The cooperation of these elements together with the flanges 23 and 39 ofthe front and back plates, respectively, and the inclined tabs 30 and 32of the front plate 20 with the recesses 33 and 34 of the back plate 21prevent any relative movement whatsoever of these two plate members andthus forms a sturdy, dependable structure which may beeasily fabricatedat materially reduced cost.

The socket and starter assembly 12 as described above is secured to theends of the wiring channel as shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose thewiring channel is provided with two pairs of slotted openings 50 in theside walls thereof to receive the narrowed tab parts 46' and 47, as maybe observed in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, among others.

More specifically, the channel 11 which is normally provided with a pairof inwardly formed flanges 11' has the end portions of the flanges 11slotted at 11" to receive the tabs 46 and 47 so that when the socketassembly is in position on the channel the outer face of the back plate21 will be substantially co-planar with the end of the channel. Inaddition, the side walls of the channel 11 are provided with a pair ofopenings 51 for cooperation with the openings 48 and 49 on the tabs 46and 47, respectively. To install the socket assembly 12 and the tabs 46and 47 are engaged in the slots 11"'in the channel flanges 11 and theassembly is moved upwardly to also engage the narrowed tab parts 46 and47' with their respective slotted openings 50- in the channel wall. Theassembly is then secured inthis depending position on the channel by apair of machine screws 52 which extend through the openings 51 in thechannel wall and threadably engage the openings 48 and 49. The use ofthe screws 52 together with the slotted openings 11" and 50 forms asecure attachment which will prevent the socket assembly from tiltingrelative to the channel 11. For convenience in installing the socketassembly, the channel 11 is provided with an offset portion 53 in eachchannel wall so that the tabs 46' and 47' may be easily engaged withtheir respective openings 51.

After the socket assemblies 12 on each end of the wiring channel 11 havebeen secured to the channel and the electrical wiring installed, thereflector 12 may then be positioned in place. The reflector is held tothe channel 11 by a plurality of bolts 54 as shown in Fig. 3 which aresecured at their upper ends to the top wall of the channel 11 and have athreaded lower portion 55 for cooperation with a threaded element 56rotatably carried in openings 57 in the upper wall of the reflector. Thethreaded element 56 is in the form of a nut having a screw driver slot58 for rotation thereof. The nuts 56 are preferably permanently securedin the openings 57 by a suitable flange 59 which permits them to berotated relative to the reflector 10, but will not fall from thereflector when the latter is to be disengaged from the wiring channel11. I

From the foregoing description it is clear that this new and improvedsocket assembly provides a sturdy and dependable mount for the sockets13 and 14, as well as a wiring channel by means of a single screw inplace of four or more screws heretofore required. Moreover, the entiresocket and starter assembly is removably held to the wiring channel 11by the use of merely two screws or other suitable fasteners and may bereadily engaged or disengaged therefrom for assembly, repair ormaintenance. Moreover, by reason of the improved cooperation between thesocket assemblies and the wiring channel the reflector can be installedand removed without affecting the wiring between cooperating socketassemblies and disposed within the channel 11 or otherwise disturbingthe socket assemblies except to remove the bulbs 15.

It will be observed in connection with Fig. 1 as well as certain of theother figures that in cases where the reflector 10 is substantially thesame length as the channel 11, the upper wall of the reflector must berecessed as indicated at 10' so that it can be readily installed andremoved without interfering with the socket assemblies 12.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been described, it isapparent that modification, alterations and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the true scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A fitting for fluorescent lighting fixtures comprisin two bi-pintypefiuorescent lamp sockets with lamp pinengageable contacts at theirouter ends and a base including wire-securing terminals extending to oneside thereof, said base having flat front and rear faces, normallyvertical, front and rear plates bearing on the front; and rear faces. ofsaid bases and having interlocking elements for holding the plates at afixed spacing to accommodate the socket bases with sockets extendingfrom the edge thereof to prevent transverse and horizontal shifting ofone plate relative to the other, the socket bases having recesses in oneface and the associated plate having projections which enter therecesses to hold the sockets against shifting, means to secure the twoplates together with said socket bases interposed therebetween and holdsaid sockets in engagement with said projections, said interlockingelements include a bottom flange on one plate and engaging the otherplate, and cooperating vertical flanges at the top of each plate forengagement one with the other.

2. A fitting for fluorescent lighting fixtures comprising two bi-pintype fluorescent lamp sockets with lamp pinengageable contacts at theirouter ends and a base including wire-securing terminals extending to oneside thereof, said base having flat front and rear faces, normallyvertical, front and rear plates bearing on the front and rear faces ofsaid bases and having interlocking elements for holding the plates at afixed spacing to accommodate the socket bases with sockets extendingfrom the edge thereof to prevent transverse and horizontal shifting ofone plate relative to the other, the socket bases having recesses in oneface and the associated plate having projections which enter therecesses to hold the sockets against shifting, means to secure the twoplates together with said socket bases interposed therebetween and holdsaid sockets in engagement with said projections, said interlockingelements including a bottom flange on one plate and engaging the otherplate, and cooperating vertical flanges at the top of each plate forengagement one with the other and said vertical flanges on the backplate extending upwardly and forming mounting ears for securing thefitting to a lighting fixture channel.

3. A fitting for fluorescent lighting fixtures comprising two bi-pintype fluorescent lamp sockets with lamp pinengageable contacts at theirouter ends and a base including wire-securing terminals extending to oneside thereof, said base having flat front and rear faces, normallyvertical, front and rear plates bearing on the front and rear faces ofsaid bases and having interlocking elements for holding the plates at afixed spacing to accommodate the socket bases with sockets extendingfrom the edge thereof to prevent transverse and horizontal shifting ofone plate relative to the other, the socket bases having recesses in oneface and the associated plate having projections which enter therecesses to hold the sockets against shifting, means to secure the twoplates together with said socket bases interposed therebetween and holdsaid sockets in engagement with said projections, said front platehaving an upper forwardly extending flange,

and a starter socket mounted on said flange.

4. Means for holding fluorescent lamp sockets and securing them to afixture body comprising a sheet metal back plate having a normallyvertical portion greater than the length of two bi-pin type lampsockets, a horizontal, forwardly extending stiifening flange at thebottom of said back plate, two forwardly extending vertical flanges atthe top of said plate and spaced for cooperation with and attachment tosaid fixture body, a front sheet metal plate shorter than said backplate and having rearwardly extending flanges at the top for engagingthe vertical flanges of said back plate and holding said plates inpredetermined spaced relationship and horizontal alignment, said frontplate also having a bottom stiffening flange, said stiffening flangesengaging one another to space the plates at the bottom, the spacingbetween said plates being such as to receive the lamp socketstherebetween, and one of said plates having boss-like elements extendingtoward the other plate and engaging recesses in the lamp sockets to holdthe latter in place, and means for clamping the plates against thesockets.

5. A fluorescent lighting fixture comprising an elongated, invertedU-shaped wiring channel having openings in the lower part of each sidewall with said openings being opposite one another and a bolt holeassociated with each opening, a transversely extending channelstiffening plate having a vertical portion with upwardly extending, earsentering said openings, bolts engaging said bolt holes andears forsecuring the ears to the channel side walls, the stiffening plate havingalong the bottom thereof a forwardly extending stiffening flange, a pairof fluorescent lamp sockets having their rear faces positioned againstthe vertical portion of said stiffening plate, a second plate in frontof the lamp sockets and having elements which interlock with thestilfening plate to secure fixed spacing between the plates and preventvertical and lateral movement, the lamp sockets and at least one of theplates having inter-engaging elements which prevent movement of thesockets relative to one another and means for detachably securing theplates together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,314,038 Elting Mar. 16, 1943 2,399,501 Mueller et a1. Apr. 30, 19462,487,468 Naysmith Nov. 8, 1949 2,667,570 Goldthorpe Jan. 26, 19542,724,814 Stubbers Nov. 22, 1955 2,780,791 Morschel Feb. 5, 1957 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,052,535 France Sept. 23, 1953

